Chuckles VIII Readies For Groundhog Day Prediction

Chuckles VIII will make her second Groundhog Day prediction as Connecticut's official groundhog on Feb. 2 at Lutz Children's Museum.

Bob Eckert, the museum's executive director, isn't sure exactly when that tradition started at the Manchester museum, but says it could go back as far as the museum's founding in 1953.

What is definitely known is that Chuckles and the groundhog's annual prediction celebrate the museum's intent to care for injured animals that have nowhere else to go.

Rachel Hadyka, the educational services manager at Lutz, is lucky enough to be considered Chuckles VIII's best friend.

As a licensed animal rehabilitator, Hadyka had Chuckles VIII living in her home for some time after the animal was brought to Lutz after being found on its own in Vernon.

"She was about four weeks old at the time, which is way too young to be walking around without mom for groundhogs," Hadyka said. "We took her in. We're never going to secure a groundhog for Groundhog Day purposes. Our original intent was letting her go."

What kept Chuckles VIII in Lutz care was the improper growth of her teeth. As Hadyka put it, Chuckles VIII's teeth grow long, as a rodent's teeth should, but they also grow apart, making it hard for her to gnaw.

"Survival might be tougher, so we made the call that she was going to be the next Connecticut Chuckles," Hadyka said.

Now Hadyka has Chuckles VIII, who loves snacking on bananas and almonds and can even be asked to wave or spin around, feeling comfortable in her forever home.

On Feb. 2, Lutz Children Museum's big day in the spotlight, Chuckles VIII will once again predict whether winter will last six more weeks or if spring is close. Last year her prediction, which preceded February's historic blizzard, called for a longer winter.

Eckert said the Groundhog Day tradition dates back to German settlers' arrival in the U.S.

"Every culture has a middle of the winter celebration because it's dark and discouraging. You look for some hope that spring is coming," Eckert said. "Everyone wants to have a little fun in the middle of winter and everyone is hopeful that spring is coming soon."

But Eckert said that it's likely that Hazel Lutz, the museum's founder, used the groundhog to educate as well.

"Everything they did then and everything we do now is for an educational purpose," Eckert said. "The museum was founded by a Manchester teacher and run by volunteers who were all Manchester teachers. I am sure that the animals they had here they were using for an educational purpose."

The current Lutz museum has an entire wing dedicated to animals that were brought to the facility injured and were unable to return to the wild after rehabilitation. The museum doesn't keep animals that are fit to live in the wild.

"It celebrates the animal part of the museum and the fact that we put a lot of love and care and a roof over their heads," Hadyka said. "They have an enriching life. We can still give them a second chance at life. It's cool that we get to do that."

With a year of experience, Eckert said that Chuckles VIII is once again ready to predict the weather for the state's 3.6 million residents.

"She's brilliant, she has done her research, she's serious about her job," Eckert said. "She's not just a representative in Manchester, she represents the entire state. You have to turn to Manchester for Connecticut's weather."